Written Answers Nos. 77-95
77. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the amount expended by his Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24938/21]
View answerMy Department has incurred the following expenditure matching the description outlined by the Deputy.
|
Advertising Campaign |
Advertising Company |
Mediums used |
Date |
Amount |
|
Covid-19 Passenger Information flyers |
Snap Leeson Lane, JKPrint |
COVID-19 passenger information flyers at ports and airports |
December 2020 |
€3,265 |
|
Total expenditure |
€3,265 |
In addition, my Department is continuing to work as part of a cross Government Communications Group on a range of targeted public information campaigns, including COVID-19. This group, led by the Department of an Taoiseach, is tasked with providing a coordinated and whole of government response to the pandemic and as such, leads on the type of public awareness campaigns mentioned in the Deputy's Question.
78. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport when the RSA stakeholders forum members who have exceeded their tenure will be asked to step down to allow for new members to be elected to the forum. [24974/21]
View answerThis is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
79. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the required qualifications for driving test staff for each level of driver license testing. [24975/21]
View answerThe standards and qualifications to be met by driver testers are set out in schedule 8 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006). The schedule was most recently amended by S.I. No. 489 of 2020. As well as being approved by the Oireachtas and being available in the Oireachtas Library to all members of both Houses, legislation is in the public domain, and may be consulted at www.irishstatutebook.ie.
80. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport his plans to renew out of date permits for driving instructors. [24976/21]
View answerDue to level 5 restrictions and the need to adhere to Government public health protocols, it has not been possible in recent months for the Road Safety Authority to carry out all of the check tests that are legally required to renew driver instructor licences in a timely manner.
In response to these delays and in anticipation of the resumption of Initial Basic Training (IBT) and the partial resumption of Essential Driver Training (EDT) on the 10th of May, my Department has now moved to extend these licences. Under regulations signed into law last week, any driver instructor licence issued between the 1st of September 2018 and the 3rd of January 2021 will now be valid for 3 years rather than 2. The expiry date of these licences will thus be an additional 1 year from the date originally specified on the licence.
I understand that the Road Safety Authority has contacted Approved Driving Instructors across the country to inform them of this extension.
81. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport his plans to follow-up on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications Networks recommendation to open regular communication and consultation between the RSA and the union representatives for approved driving instructors. [24977/21]
View answerAs this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct response. I would ask that she contact my offices if no reply is received within ten working days.
82. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport when the 40 newly-recruited driving testers will be fully trained and qualified to commence driving licence testing; the level of training being given; the body providing the training; and the qualifications of the personnel that are carrying out this training for the new staff. [24978/21]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The information requested is held by the Authority and this question is being referred to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
84. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if a person (details supplied) will be prioritised for an appointment for a driver theory test to allow them entry to a college placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24986/21]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Autority Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, including the theory test, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority.
Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to it for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
85. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport when it is planned to resume driver theory tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25014/21]
View answer87. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if it is planned to extend the pilot scheme driver theory test remotely to include category B vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25016/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 87 together.
The Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.
Officials both in this Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that Theory Tests can resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog.
The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.
86. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if a driver theory test will be expedited for a person (details supplied) on the resumption of theory testing for work purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25015/21]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Act and as provided by the Oireachtas, the driver testing service, including the theory test, is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
88. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of the additional investment needed to provide greater capacity across all modes to meet expected increase in demand if free public transport was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25023/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable. The funding of those services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the subvention payments from the Exchequer. The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.
The provision of public transport services is heavily dependent on passenger fare revenue as it normally contributes about 65% of the operational cost. The remaining 35% of cost is covered by the PSO grant and the Department of Social Protection grant under the Free Travel Scheme. In Budget 2020, and prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, over €300 million was provided for PSO and Local Link services. Due to the impact of Covid-19, which resulted in the collapse of fare revenue on public transport, a further €370 million (in addition to the c. €300m already provided) was allocated to enable the continued operation of public transport services in 2020. My primary focus is to ensure that public transport services continue to operate during this pandemic, and I secured almost €659m for PSO services in 2021, of which €30m is to support the licensed bus sector.
Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
89. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce an integrated ticketing system across the public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25024/21]
View answer90. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent in each of the years 2015 to 2020 on improving the ticketing systems across the public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25025/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including integrated ticketing.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the question to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
93. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his response to the Defence Forces proposal that the Air Corps takes over some maritime search-and-rescue operations including the implications for the current service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25141/21]
View answerThe current service provider, CHC Ireland (CHCI) , is engaged in a 10-year contract with my Department, which commenced in 2012. The contract has already been extended for 1 year and may be extended for a further 2 years. No tender has issued for a successor to this contract but a procurement process has commenced.
In light of recent media commentary on this process, the Department issued a lengthy update to all interested parties to provide, inter alia, clarity to potential bidders on the process. This update, along with all other pertinent information is available on our SAR Webpage.
As set out in that update, the Secretary General of Department of Defence requested the Secretary General of the Department of Transport to explore the option of the Air Corps providing some element of the IRCG’s aviation service as part of the business case in November 2020.
On foot of this request, an Air Corps submission was received by my Department last March which is being reviewed as part of the preparation of a detailed business case on the entire IRCG aviation service. This is part of a deliberative process which will lead to a Government decision in due course and on which it would not be appropriate for me to comment.
94. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 40 and 41 of 6 May 2021, if the 100x is also facing cancellation by Bus Éireann; his plans to cover the towns and areas mentioned in the original Parliamentary Question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25145/21]
View answerThe position remains as outlined in my response to PQ Nos. 40 and 41 of 6th May 2021. I am not aware of any plans by Bus Éireann to withdraw the 100X Dundalk to Dublin Expressway service.
The Deputy's previous questions (PQ Nos. 40 and 41 of 6th May 2021) have been forwarded to the NTA for direct response.
95. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Finance the provisions in place for persons that have lost their home to repossession or recession to purchase a home now in cases in which they cannot save the 20% deposit needed as non-first time buyers. [24820/21]
View answerThe Central Bank of Ireland, as part of its independent mandate to preserve and protect financial stability in Ireland, has statutory responsibility for the regulation of mortgage lending by banks and other regulated entities.
In line with the Central Bank’s mandate, the Central Bank introduced macroprudential measures for residential mortgage lending by such institutions in February 2015. The objective of the mortgage measures is to increase the resilience of the banking sector and households and to reduce the risk of credit-house price spirals from developing.
The macroprudential measures apply loan-to-value (LTV) and loan-to-income (LTI) restrictions to residential mortgage lending by financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank. The LTI limit is 3.5 times the borrower’s income. For second and subsequent buyers, the LTV limit is 80% of the value of the residential property (i.e. a deposit of 20% is required from the house purchaser). A mortgage deposit can help households to absorb a certain reduction of house prices before the borrower falls into negative equity.
Allowances to exceed the LTI limit and LTV limit have been central to the framework of the mortgage measures since their introduction. The allowances acknowledge that higher LTI and LTV mortgages can be appropriate in certain circumstances. Mortgage lenders are allowed to issue up to 20 per cent of the value of new mortgage lending to second and subsequent buyers at LTVs above 80 per cent. This could include borrowers in the specific circumstance referenced by the Deputy.
The allocation of allowances is a matter for individual lenders, based on an evaluation of each specific borrower and the lender’s own credit policies. The mortgage measure limits are in addition to individual banks' credit policies and are not a substitute for lenders’ responsibilities to assess affordability and lend prudently.
Ultimately, however, subject to the requirement to comply with the provisions of the macro-prudential mortgage lending rules, the Central Bank Consumer Protection Code and other regulatory requirements, it remains the responsibility of an individual lender to assess the credit worthiness of an individual and to decide whether or not to provide a loan in any particular case, or how much credit to provide in any particular case.
